South Africa's Jacques Kallis played through the pain of an upper leg injury to make 58 against Australia yesterday. Source: AP

JACQUES Kallis tip-toed his way through a tail-end rearguard in a desperate bid to fight another day in Perth, as Australia swung a sledgehammer at his injured hamstring yesterday.

The gutsy allrounder was the last real batting hope with Faf du Plessis as the Proteas stared at a 300-run deficit with just three wickets in hand early yesterday when he emerged from the dressing room at No. 9.

It was two spots lower than Kallis could have batted after he left the ground with his hamstring scare on day one, heating speculation the visitors face a selection nightmare just to field a balanced XI for the final Test in Perth.

Medicos had advised the grade-one strain at the top of Kallis' right hamstring would keep him off bowling duty for a fortnight, but that he was fit enough to bat.

They didn't bargain on a scorching Peter Siddle bouncer barrage. Siddle's spell shortly before lunch left Kallis ducking and weaving, and clutching the back of his leg in pain as he battled to keep alive South Africa's hopes of a series draw and a hold on their No. 1 Test ranking.

Kallis bravely defied the attack, steering South Africa to within seven runs of avoiding the follow-on target of 350.

He eventually fell caught behind to Michael Clarke for 58, when the ball bounced off his front pad and brushed the thumb of his glove on its way to Matthew Wade.

Jacques Kallis is caught by Matthew Wade off the bowling of Michael Clarke for 58, bringing a courageous innings to an end. Picture: Matt TurnerSource: The Advertiser

With the Adelaide Test increasingly likely to end in a draw or win for Australia, a typical "result" WACA wicket looms as the battle ground for the No. 1 spot.

An Australian series victory would achieve Michael Clarke's mission of restoring his side to cricket's pinnacle while a drawn tour - 0-0 or 1-1 - would keep South Africa at the top of the Test tree.

But with the Proteas still reeling from an injury crisis that has spiked in Adelaide, the visitors now face a selection-table headache to defend their crown.

Having lost JP Duminy to a freak Achilles tendon tear in Brisbane, skipper Graeme Smith was forced to rule out Vernon Philander when the paceman woke up with back spasms on the morning of the opening day in Adelaide.

The situation worsened with Kallis' strain midway through his fourth bowling over on day one. The veteran was immediately sent for scans, spent two nights waking every two hours to apply ice to his right buttock and played no role until he appeared during the first session of yesterday's third day.

But with just three days between Adelaide and the Perth Test starting on Friday, Kallis appears a risky proposition to take into the decider.

Depending on his recovery, South Africa could play Kallis as a specialist batsman. He showed trademark resistance when it was needed yesterday, despite his running between wickets being clearly compromised and appearing discomforted moving forward in the crease.

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If his fitness is considered too great a gamble in Perth, it is possible back-up wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile could come off the bench to allow part-time gloveman AB de Villiers to concentrate on his top-order batting.

Tsolekile was overlooked in Adelaide for du Plessis, who was preferred as a like-for-like replacement for Duminy. Tsolekile's inclusion would calm simmering political tension in South Africa, where there is growing angst at the lack of black African players in the Proteas side.

The Proteas already seem bound to sack ineffective spinner Imran Tahir, who was smacked to all corners of Adelaide Oval on his way to racking up the horrible first-innings figures of 0/180 from his 23 overs.

That opens the door for left-arm tweaker Robin Peterson, if selectors go for a spin option on the usually pace-friendly WACA strip. The 33-year-old can play a containing role with the ball and, with a batting average of 27.16 from his six Tests, provide some lower-order batting.

Reports suggest Philander should make a full recovery from the tightness in his back by Friday - a prognosis selectors will hope stands up to ease the pace load on Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

There was also suggestion yesterday the Proteas were racing the clock as they considered flying in replacement allrounder Ryan McLaren to Perth, but were concerned at the short time to acclimatise.

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